Dear Editor,

As we sit around the Sunday dinner table, listening to family, friends, or neighbors on what we believe, or what they think we should believe, it still comes down to your own private thoughts, and what you do when you are all alone in that voting booth. Do we hold on to characteristics we have always held dear, oppose those contrary to how we were raised, or do we fall in line with the loud, angry voices so prominent in our bright red bubble?

Does the candidate you choose exploit our prejudices by suggesting we treat people of different races, beliefs, ethnicities, or party as not worthy of respect or dignity? If so, you might want to rethink your vote.

Does the candidate you choose rile up anger towards those he feels have wronged him or displayed disloyalty, and promises to exact revenge?

If so, you might want to rethink your vote.

Does the candidate you choose boast about taking away women’s rights and vow to make it a national referendum that women will not have control over their bodies and healthcare, and if they do not comply, they will be punished for breaking the law? If so, you might want to rethink your vote.

Does the candidate you choose claim to be for law and order, but when the law arrives at his door, law enforcement is corrupt and being weaponized by his opponents? If so, you might want to rethink your vote.

Does the candidate you choose speak out against the free press, declaring that those that oppose him are “enemies of the state,” and question a professional judiciary and vow to end them if elected? If so, you might want to rethink your vote.

Does the candidate you choose mock handicapped citizens, call our soldiers who serve our country as “suckers” and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice as “losers”? If so, you might want to rethink your vote.

Does the candidate you choose solicit cheers by mentioning harming people he opposes and using violence and pumped-up machismo to blow enemies away? If so, you might want to rethink your vote.

Does the candidate you choose quote Hitler and Mussolini, praise world dictators, and demonize groups of people entering our country as “poisoning” our society? If so, you may want to rethink your vote.

Does the candidate you choose stand on the sidelines and instruct members of his party to oppose legislation that might address our immigration crisis, provide aid to Ukraine and Israel, because it will help his candidacy? If so, you might want to rethink your vote.

Does the candidate you choose address communities and families of mass shootings that they need to “get over it” and move on, indicating that nothing will be done to protect our children and loved ones from a crazed shooter? If so, you might want to rethink your vote.

Does the candidate you choose encourage bedlam and chaos if the Supreme Court does not rule his way, and instructs party leaders to defy Supreme Court rulings if they are contrary to what they believe, going as far as threatening civil war? If so, you may want to rethink your vote.

Finally, does the candidate you choose refuse to accept the results of a free and fair election and exploit followers to openly and violently attack the Capital, its employees and law enforcement, with feces, Confederate and Nazi flags in an effort to hold on to power? If so, you may want to rethink your vote.

When you make that vote, ask yourself if who you choose will invite all Americans in building and maintaining a healthy society, where the social contract is honored, and every American has room to dream and grow?

Then, ask yourself, if the 2024 election has the same outcome as 2020, what will likely happen? Will the violence increase, will the divided country magically be healed, or will bedlam and chaos prevail throughout the land? Or as threatened, will America find itself in another civil war?

Ann Taylor PsyD
Oakwood, Texas